Screwdriver guide assembly



United States Patent H 3,532,142

72 Inventor Harold B. Ziegler FOREIGN PATENTS8723Magnetic,ElPaso,Texas79904 33 934 5 921 Germany 145/51 1 pP 727,91534,047 7/1922 Norway 145/52 221 Filed May9, 1968 Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon on 1 0 Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker, Jr.

Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [45] Patented [54]SCREWDRIVER GUIDE ASSEMBLY 9 clmms6nnwing Figs' ABSTRACT: When mountedon a screwdriver the assembly [521 (1.8. CI 145/50 enable the user totan and hold a sgrew in the manner [51] Ill. Cl 15/00 hown. A rubberadapter collar which holds and glans the [50] Field olSearch l45/50(5),screw, is [emovably plugged in [he forward end of an elon. 51,50,52gated transparent sleeve slidable on the shank. A two-pan flangedbushing is telescoped into the rearward end of the [56] References (medsleeve and is shiftable on the shank. A friction-retained limit UNITEDSTATES PATENTS stop provides an abutment for a split washer andantifriction 3,298,410 1/1967 Morifuji 145/52 ball bearings areinterposed between the flange and washer.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 3,532,142

Fig./ Fig-3 g 30 I 36 Harold B. Ziegler 4 3 INVENTOR. 3

' 36 BY @Mm WWW SCREWDRIVER GUIDEASSEMBLY This invention relates todevices, commonly categorized as screwdriver attachments, which areoperatively mounted in I ponent parts each contributing itsproportionate share to the ready-to-use device. A highly significantfeature has to do with a rigid elongated clear transparent open-endedguide sleeve of requisite outside diameter and having a bore of adiameter to clear the shouldered portions of the screw-tuming bit. Theopen forward end of the sleeve is provided with screw holding andstarting means referred to more specifically as an'adapter; This adaptercomprises a relatively short collar-like member with an axial bore toaccommodate the shank of the screw and which has a slit in one sidewhich opens into the bore-and permits the collar to be applied andremoved. With thecollar applied it can be plugged into the bore at theforward end of the sleeve. With the adapterin place the kerf is lined upfor coaction therewith of the bit of the screwdriver. The other, thatis,

the rearward end of the sleeve is provided with a flanged bushing whichis made up of semicircular half sections plugged into the bore andslidingly embracing the shank. The flange'means is exposed and pocketedto hold antifriction ball bearings which bear against an end thrustwasher. The washer issplit and can be sprung overthe shank and it isinterposed between the flange and a cooperating end portion of abackupandend thrust member which is friction fitted but slidable on theshank.

The object of this invention, generally stated, is to improve upon knownprior art attachment-type screw holders and starters and, in so doing,to advance the art to which the invention relates.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a view in perspective showing a conventional screwdriver withthe improved applicable and removable guide assembly in place andsuggesting one manner of holding the sleeve and the handle of thescrewdriver with a view toward positioning and starting a screw in asuitable workpiece.

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts in section andelevation taken approximately on the plane of the section line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 and which emphasizes the manner inwhich a bit is engaged with ascrew and the screw is positioned, with the aid of the adapter, in theforward end portion of the sleeve.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the adapter removed andshowing the manner in which the started screw has been driven home.

FIG. 4 is a cross section on the plane of the section line 4-4 of FIG.2'.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts withthe adapter omitted.

And FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the adapter and showing how it isapplied in full lines ready for insertion into the sleeve and how theadapter can be removed after the screw has been started and steadied ina seemingly evident manner.

The screwdriver 8 in FIG. I is conventional and embodies a shank 10 witha handle or handgrip 12 at the upper end and with the usual blade orbit" as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be understood that theassembly, which could be described as attachment means, canbe appliedand removed without altering the screwdriver.

The assembly is made up of the plurality'of component parts and has abore of an inside diameter that permits the sleeve to be slid over thebit and shank to permit adjustment of the same as illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3 respectively. The open forward end of the sleeve is denoted at 18;The rearward open end of the sleeve is denoted at 20. The sleeve isproportional in length with the overall length of the shank of thescrewdriver as is satisfactorily illustrated in FIGS. l to 3.

Taking up now the insertable and removable adapter for the screw. 22 vitwill be noted that the adapter is denoted by the numeral 24 andcomprises a second somewhat shorter sleeve but whichwill be referred tohere as a compressibly resilient collar 26 of a length-less than theshank of the screw and having a slit or slot 28 which opens through theperiphery of the collar and communicates with the bore so that thecollar can be attached as shown in full lines in FIG. 6 and removed atthe desired stage aswill be hereinafter further explained. The outsidediameter of a the collar is such that the collar can be compressedslightly and plugged into the bore of the sleeve as shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

The rearward end portion 20 of the: sleeve is provided with aninsertable and removable fitting which is here referred to convenientlyas a bushing 30. The bushing can also be made of moldable plasticmaterial of an appropriate grade and it comprises a pair ofopposedsemicircular half portions 32 which .can be plugged telescopinglyinto the bore as shown. The

upper or rearward ends of the half sections are provided with lateralhalf flanges which are denoted at 34 and which have recesses or pocketscontaining circumferentially spaced slightly projecting antifrictionball bearings 36.

The aforementioned end thrust and limit stop member is denoted by thenumeral 38 and it is :made of a suitably soft grade of rubber and has amain axialbore 40 which is friction fitted and'slidable at will on theshank as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The bore is of suitable cross-sectionaldiameter and there is a counterbore at 42as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 toprovide the elasticity desired. The forward end portion 44 provides anabutment for the washer 46 which as shown in FIG. 5 is slit as at 48 topermit the washer to be sprung and attached to the shank so that it willoccupy a position between the surface 44 and the ball-equipped flangemeans 34. This washer is sometimes referred to in the instant disclosureas a snap-on bearing race.

It will be evident that the cylindrical barrel or guide sleeve 16entirely surrounds the blade's shoulder and tip and also pockets theadapter 24 and the screw which is temporarily held therein for startingpurposes. The fact that the sleeve is transparent enables'the user toline up the bit with the kerf in the head of the screw 22.

The limit stop member 38 is made of soft rubber which after It can bepointed out too that the sponge rubber limit stop member 38 must fitsnugly on the shank of the screwdriver. The segmental half portions 32must exactly fit the shank but yet be free to slide thereon and also fitwith requisite nicety' into the end portion 20 of the bore of the sleeve16. The guide sleeve must have an inside diameter that will allow it tohe slid over the tip, neck and shoulder portions of the screwdriverblade or bit 14. By using a magnetized bit or blade the result desiredcan be achieved more satisfactorily.

In assembling the component parts one would push the compressiblyresilient or sponge rubber limit stop member 38 over the tip andshoulder of the screwdriver blade and would slide it back far enough onthe shank to make room for the next step of assembling the othercomponent parts. The sleeve 16 is fitted over the tip, shoulder and neckof the bit or blade. The washer 46 is snapped into position and then thehalf sections of the flanged bushing are inserted to assume thepositions shownbest in FIGS. 2, and 3.

With reference again to the applicable and removable adapter 24 it isnecessary to wrap it around the screw just below the head of the screw.The screw and adapter can then be pushed into the forward end portion 18of the sleeve 16 in the manner shown best in FIG. 2 to the point ofcontact between the screwhead slot and driver bit thus positioning thescrew in proper alignment for starting. This may often be a worthwhileconvenience particularly when working with soft materials that requireno drilled hole such as, for example, soft wood, wallboard, soft sheetmetal and the like. With the adapter in place the workman would firstposition the point of the screw on the mark as suggested in FIG. 2.Then, by delivering a sharp blow to the butt end of the screwdriverhandle with the palm of the free hand, the point of the screw isstarted. After a few turns to firm the screw in place, the guide sleeve16 is momentarily pulled back so that the adapter can be stripped fromthe started screw and set aside as suggested in phantom lines in FIG. 6.

The final step of driving the screw home is shown in FIG. 3.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modificatons and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

lclaim:

1. In combination, a conventional screwdriver embodying a shank having ahandle at its rearward end and a screw engaging and turning bit at itsforward end, an elongated guide sleeve encompassing said bit and anadjacent portion of the shank and having connecting means at a rearwardend operatively slidable on said shank and a forward screw enclosing bitpiloting end, and screw holding and starting means temporarily anddetachably connectible to the shank of a screw, said means beingtelescopingly but removably lodged in the forward end portion of thebore of said sleeve, whereby the screw I can be orientated with thesleeve, bit, and work surface for starting the screw with the bit seatedin the usual screwdriver kerf in the head of said screw.

2. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein saidmeans comprises a relatively short collar-like adapter having an axialbore with a lengthwise expansible and contractable open-ended slit inone side opening into the bore and opening outwardly through theperipheral surface in a manner to permit the adapter to be initiallymanually attached to the screw and subsequently manually removed fromthe screw after it has been acceptably and firmly started in the worksurface, the outside diameter of said adapter corresponding with theinside diameter of the bore of said guide sleeve, whereby to permit theadapter to be removably plugged into said bore.

3 The combination defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein saidguide sleeve is rigid, is made of clear transparent plastic material, isof a length less than the length of said shank, said collar-like adapterbeing made of compressibly resilient material.

4. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein themeans operatively and slidably connecting the rearward end of saidsleeve comprises a bushing which is shiftable lengthwise along saidshank and is telescopingly plugged into the bore at the rearward end ofsaid sleeve.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein saidbushing is made up of a pair of semicircular half sections havingflanged end portions providing an annular flange, said flange encirclingsaid shank and being disposed in a plane at right angles to the axes ofthe shank and sleeve, respectively.

6. The combination defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein alimit stop member is friction-fitted but adjustable on a median portionof said shank, and compatible antifriction means orientated andinterposed between said annular flange and a coo erating end of saidlimit stop member.

7. For use on the it-equrpped shank of a conventional type screwdriver,a guide assembly comprising, in combination, an axially bored end thrustand limit stop member adapted to be retentively but shiftably mounted ona median portion of said shank, an elongated rigid transparent sleevehaving forward and rearward end portions, a bushing friction-fitted intothe bore of the rearward end portion of said sleeve, said bushing havingannular flange means abutting the coacting rearward end of said sleeve,and antifriction means interposed between said flange means and acooperating end of said end thrust member.

8. The guide assembly defined in and according to claim 7, and whereinsaid antifriction means comprises a split washer adapted to surroundsaid shank, said washer being opposed to said flange means, said flangemeans provided with pocketed antifriction ball bearings abutting saidwasher.

9. The guide assembly defined in and according to claim 8 and, incombination, screw holding and starting means temporarily and detachablyconnectible to the shank of a screw, said means being telescopingly butremovably lodged in the forward end portion of the bore of said sleeve,whereby the screw can be orientated with the sleeve, bit, and worksurface for starting the screw with the bit seated in the usualscrewdriver kerf in the head of said screw.

